Agency takes over foster care in Rockford

An independent child welfare agency in Ottawa has stepped up to hire all of the caseworkers and support staff serving all the foster children displaced by Catholic Charities in Rockford.

Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley intends to hire all of the caseworkers who manage approximately 300 foster children under the care of Catholic Charities in the Rockford Diocese, which terminated publicly funded foster care and adoption services on June 1 when civil unions went into effect.

Youth Service Bureau already serves 1,200 children in six counties. According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, it is "among the highest-rated foster care provider in our downstate regions."

"DCFS commends both agencies for the way they have collaborated with us on this transition in the best interests of the children and families we serve," the agency said in a statement.

"This helps make it as seamless a transition as possible," added DCFS spokesman Kendall Marlowe.

The transition is expected to be complete by the end of the month.

Catholic Charities in Springfield, Joliet and Peoria have suspended their foster care and adoption licensing until a judge or the Illinois Attorney General assures them they legally can preserve their policy of licensing only married couples and singles and don't have to license foster parents in civil unions.

Catholic Charities in Chicago terminated its foster care and adoption services in 2007 when it lost insurance coverage.